Chute.



N0. 788,090. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905.

A. M. AGKLIN.

GHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1903.

4 $HEETSSHEET l.

No. 783,090. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905. A. M. AGKLIN.

GHUTE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 5, 1903.

4 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

No. 783,090. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905. A. M. ACKLIN.

GHUTE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 5, 1903- 4 SHEETS SHEET 3.

No. 783,090. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905. A. M. AGKLIN.

GHUTB.

APPLlOATION FILED FEB. a. 1903.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

(Fiji/Z655 a. .Zizz/ezzzazr 35% 73M Mu va/M KM UNITED STATES PatentedFebruary 21, 1905.

PATENT OEEIcE.

ALFRED M. ACKLIN, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HEYL &PATTERSON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A COPART- NERSHIP FORMED UNDERTHE LAWS OF THE STATE OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

CHUTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,090, dated February21, 1905. Application filed February 5,1903. Serial No. 141,975.

To to whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED M. AoKLIN, a resident of Pittsburg, in thecounty of Alleghen y and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented a new anduseful Improvement in Chutes; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to chutes, and more especially to chutes employedin the transfer of frangible material, such as coal, its object being toprovide a chute whereby the coal or other material transferred from onepoint to another in unloading and loading may be so handled that thecoal or like material may be discharged into the car or other receptaclewithout having to drop from any height which would tend to break thecoal in its fall.

To these ends my invention comprises, generally stated, a chutesupported at an angle sufficient to give the necessary impetus to thematerial to be discharged therefrom, the lower end of said chute havinga movable section adapted to engage with the main chute, so as to benormally in proper relation to the discharge end thereof, andconnections between said movable chute and mechanism for elevating thesame, whereby said movable section may be lifted bodily to a point abovethe discharge end of said chute.

My invention further comprises other points of construction, all ofwhich will be hereinafter set forth and claimed.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I willdescribe the same more fully, referring to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of my improved chute,illustrated in connection with a coal-tipple for the loading of the coalinto cars. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective Viewof one portion of the chute. Fig. 4 is a like view of one of theremovable sections. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the curved connecting-piececonnecting my improved chute with the main discharge. Fig. 6 isacross-section. Fig. 7 is a bottom view, and Figs. 8 and 9 show amodified form of apparatus for raising and lowering the removablesection of the chute, and Figs. 10 and 11 pit-cars 4 are transportedfrom the mine to the tipple, said cars being of any ordinaryconstruction adapted to discharge the coal therefrom in any suitablemanner. Supported by the frame in line with the track 3 is the mainchute 5, into which the coal is dis charged directly from the pit-cars,said chute being directly in line with the said cars. At the lower endof the tipple 2 is the track 6, upon which the cars 7 to be loaded aretransported, said track being at right angles to the track 3 of thetipple.

The most convenient manner of handling coal in loading from the tippleis to have the pit-cars run out onto the tipple on a track at rightangles to the track of the railway below, and it is desirable to havethe loadingchute parallel to the railwaytrack and at right angles to thetrack of the tipple. Accordingly my improved chute 8 is arrangedparallel with the railway-track at the foot of the tipple, and in orderto provide connection between the main chute 5 and the chute 8 a curvedconnecting-chute 9 employed, and for this purpose I prefer to employ thecurved chute described and claimed in an application filed by W. J.Patterson, Serial No. M1957, filed February 5, 1903. This curved chute 9has the mouth 10 connected to the lower end of the chute 5, thedischarge-opening ll being connected to the upper end of the chute 8.The inner or short curved side of the chute 9 has the steep or abruptwall 12 extending from one end to the other, while the outer or longside has the steep or abrupt wall 13 at each end thereof where said wallconnects with the corresponding sides of the chutes 5 l and 8 andextending in the opposite direction a suitable distance, where it mergesinto the intermediate sloping bottom 13. The slope of the bottom 13"extends substantially to the middle portion of the said chute. The sidesof the chute 9 may be cast integral with the bottom or may be formedseparate therefrom, as illustrated in Fig. 6, the bottom being formed ofcast-iron and the sides of wrought metal riveted thereto.

The lower end of the chute 9 is provided with the lugs 14, having theopenings 15 therein. The lower end of the chute 9 is supported by meansof the bars or rods 16, secured to the framework of the tipple.

The chute 8 is composed of the upper portion 17, having the lugs 18 atthe upper end thereof with openings therein adapted to coinc'ide withthe openings 15 of the chute 9, so that by passing bolts or pins throughsaid coincident openings the section 17 is connected or hinged to thechute 9, the sides of section 17 with beveled ends extending beyond thesides of the chute 9, as at 19, so that the section 17 may be tilted, ashereinafter set forth, without leaving a gap or space between it and thechute 9. The lower end of the section 17 is provided with theoutwardlyprojecting pins or bearings 20 and the eyelets 21. The movablesection 22 has at the upper end of its sides the hooks 23, adapted toengage the pins 20 on the section 17. The ends of the sides of thesection 22 are beveled in the same manner as the sides of section 17 sothat the sides of section 22 extend beyond the sides of section 17 inorder to permit of the swinging or lowering of the section 22 withoutcreating a gap or opening between it and section 17, as above set forth.The lower ends of the section 22 are also provided with pins or bearings 24, and the sides are provided with the eyelets 25. The sections 26and 27 are constructed in like manner with the section 22, so that adetailed description of the same is unnecessary, it being understoodthat as many additional sections may be employed as is found desirableor necessary. The sections 22, 26, and 27 are thus freely detachablefrom each other and from the main section 17, so that by simply applyingpower to lift any one of said sections it disengages readily from theother section and may be readily lifted out of the way.

I will now describe the mechanism by means of which the differentsections of the chute 8 may be raised, lowered, or tilted, as may befound necessary in the operation of the chute. Journaled in the frame 2are a series of shafts 28, provided with hand-wheels 29. At the outerends of the shafts 28 are the small pinions 30, adapted to mesh with thelarge gears 31 on the shafts 32. These shafts 32 are provided with thedrums or spools 33. Chains or cables 34 are connected to the eyelets 21on the section 17 and eyelets of the sections 22, 26, and 27. Thesechains 34 pass up over the idle rollers 35 and around the drums 33, sothat by turning the correspomling hand-wheel 29 the chains or cables 34of any one of the movable sections of the chute may be raised or loweredor the front end only thereof raised and lowered to change the anglethereof, as will be fully hereinafter set forth. To provide for theretention of the sections in their raised or tilted position, brakingmechanism is employed, and for this purpose each shaft 28 is providedwith a bandwheel 36, over which brake-band 36 passes, one end of suchband being secured to frame and the other end to the weighted lever 36.It is apparent that the operator by putting his foot on lever 36releases the brake and permits the chute to be raised or lowered.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated another form of mechanism forraising and lowering the movable sections of the chute, in which theshafts 37 are driven continuously by the belt 38 passing around thepulley 39, the shaft 37 having the friction-wheel 40 thereon adapted tobe thrown into engagement with the frietion-wheel 41 on the eccentricshaft 42. The eccentric shaft 42 is operated by the lever 43. Thestationary brake-block 44 is adapted to be engaged by the friction-wheel41. The chain or cable 45, which passes down to the movable section ofthe chute, is wound around the spools 46. It is apparent that bythrowing the lever43 into the position shown in full lines thefriction-wheel 41 is brought into engagement with friction-wheel 40, andthe shaft 42 is revolved, together with the spools 46, carried thereby.hen the lever 43 is thrown in the opposite position, the friction-wheel41 is thrown out of engagement with the frictionwheel 40 and against thebrake bloek 44, thereby holding said wheel in a stationary position.

In Figs. 10 and 11 I have illustrated still another form of apparatusfor raising and lowering the movable sections of the chute, in whichhydraulic or steam cylinders 47, having piston-rods 48 connected to asuitable bail 49, adapted to engage with the sides of the movablesection, are employed, so that by operating the cylinders 47 the bailwill be raised or lowered in the same manner as above set forth.

\Nhen my improved chute is installed and ready for operation, the car 7is run into position for loading, and if said car is an ordinary gondolaoar, such as illustrated, the full number of sections of the chute willbe employed in order to bring the chute down within the body of the car,so as to prevent the coal dropping from a height sufiicient to break itwhen it is discharged from the chute into the car. The coal dumped fromthe pit-cars 4 passes down through the main chute 5 into the curvedchute 9, where in its descent it strikes the outer side of said curvedchute and where its course is changed. The tendency of the coal is tocrowd toward the long side of chute 9 and prevent the even distributionof the coal in said chute, as well as create danger of the coaloverflowing the chute along that side. The sloping bottom 13' tends todirect the coal toward the short side 12, thus acting to distribute thecoal properly and prevent its collecting unduly on the side 13. The coalthen passes from the curved chute 9 into the chute 8 and passing downthrough the several sections of the said chute is discharged from theend section into the car 7. It will be found desirable to have the carrun in under the chute, so as to begin the loading at one end of thecar, and as that end becomes filled move the car along until the coalhas been distributed properly throughout the length of the car. In caseit is found that the angle of the chute is too great the sections mayall be raised slightly by turning the hand-wheels 29 until the properadjustment has been made, or if in the case of filling a car with highsides, such as shown in dotted lines, the lower chute 27 projects toofar into the body of the car as the car is filled said section 27 may beraised out of the way by again turning the handwheels 29, said sectionbeing elevated to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. In thesame manner if it is found necessary the sections 26 and 22 may also belifted out of the way. By this construction the movable sec tions may belifted up out of the way, so as not to interfere with the discharge ofthe coal from the chute, and the coal may be discharged evenly for theentire length of the car without moving the car and when desired may belowered back into proper position with reference to the chute, while atthe same time the freely-detachable hinged connection between themovable sections and the main chute permits of the tilting of thedifferent sections or the entire chute at such different angles as maybe required for the proper distribution and fall of the coal. In thismanner I provide for the discharge of the coal into cars of differentheights and at difierent angles, as may be found necessary, the distancethe coal has to-fall being regulated to prevent its falling from aheight which will tend to break the coal in its fall.

l WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. The combination with a suitable frame, of a chute having an uppersection, a movable section normally in proper relation to the dischargeend of said upper section, and coupled thereto by a part on the formersection overlapping a part on the latter, mechanism for elevating saidmovable section, and connections from said movable section to saidmechanism, whereby said movable section may be lifted bodily to a pointabove the discharge end of said upper section.

2. The combination with a suitable frame, of a chute having an uppersection, amovable section having a freely-detachable hinged connectionwith the lower end of said upper section, mechanism for elevating saidmovable section, and connections from said movable section to saidmechanism, whereby said movable section may be lifted bodily to a pointabove the discharge end of said upper section.

3. The combination with a suitable frame,

of a chute having an upper section, a movable section normally in properrelation to the discharge end of said upper section, and coupled theretoby a part on the former section overlapping a part on the latter,mechanism for elevating said movable section, and connections from bothends of said movable section to said elevating mechanism, whereby saidmovable section may be lifted equally at both ends to a point above thedischarge end of said upper section.

4. The combination with a suitable frame, of a chute having an uppersection,two or more movable sections in line with said upper section andeach other, mechanism for elevating said movable sections, andindividual connections from each of said movable sections to saidmechanism, whereby one or both of said movable sections may be liftedbodily to a point above the discharge end of said upper section.

5. The combination with a suitable frame, of a chute consisting of twoor more sections, pins or projections on one of said sections, hooks onthe other section adapted to engage the pins of the other section toform a freelydetachable hinged connection, mechanism for elevatingone ormore of said sections, and connections from said sections to saidmechanism, whereby one or more of said sections may be lifted bodily toa point above the discharge end of said chute.

6. The combination with a suitable frame, of a chute consisting of twoor more sections, pins or projections on the lower end of the.uppersection, hooks on the upper end of the lower section adapted to engagesaid pins to form a freely-detachable hinged connection between thesections, mechanism for elevating one or more of said sections, andconnections from said sections to said mechanism, whereby one or more ofsaid sections may be lifted bodily to a point above the discharge end ofsaid chute.

In testimony whereof I, the said ALFRED M.

AoKLIN, have hereunto set my hand.

ALFRED M. ACKLIN.

Witnesses:

ROBERT CsTor'ruu, FRED D. SWEET.

